Eric Lavigne et al., “Breast Cancer Detection and Survival Among Women with Cosmetic Breast Implants: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.” The British Medical Journal: April 2013
According to a new research study published in the British Medical Journal, women with cosmetic breast implants who are diagnosed with breast cancer, are more likely to die from the disease compared to women without breast implants who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Combining research from 12 studies, Dr. Eric Lavigne and his colleagues found that women with breast implants were more likely to be diagnosed with a later stage breast cancer, compared to women diagnosed with breast cancer without breast implants.
In a separate analysis combining research from 5 different studies, the researchers report that compared to other women with breast cancer, women who had breast implants before they were diagnosed with breast cancer were 38% more likely to die from the disease. This occurs because implants interfere with mammography, making it difficult to diagnose breast cancer early.
Read the original study here.